Keep your pets safe this New Year's Eve

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Welcoming the New Year on December 31 may be a happy occasion for most people, but not for pets and other animals that have sensitive hearing.

This as their ears tend to suffer from the noise made by firecracker blasts, causing them to tremble, bark excessively, refuse to eat food, lose bowel control, or hide in different places out of panic.

Besides being frightening, fireworks also produce plumes of smoke that may harm animals’ respiratory systems, according to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

In a statement released Friday, the animal rights group said some animals even jump over fences or through plate-glass windows, and even chains just to get away from the loud sounds caused by fireworks.

“Firecrackers are a nightmare for both domestic and wild animals,” PETA’s Rochelle Regodon said. “While PETA supports a total ban on fireworks, it’s important to ensure that dogs and cats are safe during celebrations in the meantime.”

Here are some of PETA’s tips on how to keep pets and other animals safe during the New Year festivities:

Keep cats and dogs indoors in a room where they feel safe during fireworks displays and, if possible, stay with them.

Act happy and calm around scared animals in order to reinforce the idea that they don’t have a reason to be afraid.

Leave your animals at home during the celebrations – never take them with you to watch firecracker displays.

Never leave animals tethered or chained outside.

Close your windows and curtains. Turn on a radio that’s tuned to a classical music station, or turn on the TV to help drown out the sound of the fireworks.

Watch for stray animals who may be distressed. If you see an animal injured by fireworks, call PETA at 0999-8887382.